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cinderellee's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe 3.75?
I appreciate the love of Toronto food, the character who have genuine issues that bother them but deal with them, almost no real tension. Not a lot happens here which was what I wanted while in bed with a cold.
I appreciate the love of Toronto food, the character who have genuine issues that bother them but deal with them, almost no real tension. Not a lot happens here which was what I wanted while in bed with a cold.
alexkmorland's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
emilybordelovewrites's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
amyreadsandsails's review
5.0
MF - contemporary romance - Chinese-Canadian MCs - Chinese-Canadian author - moderate steam - pov: third dual - best friends to lovers - childhood crush - childhood friends - mental health rep - fake relationship (dating coach) - found family - grumpy/introverted heroine - sickbed - 5 stars. Super low angst and lovely story. I really liked how the two had completely different childhoods and the FMCs family was very sweet.
tessisreading2's review against another edition
4.0
Lau’s books don’t always work for me but this one really did; in many romances where one of the MCs has issues (family issues, mental health issues, etc.) the book ends up feeling unbalanced in one direction or another, where the other character’s main role is to prop up their partner. That wasn’t the case here - Charlotte is grumpy but intensely content in her life and who she is as a human being, and Mike has had enough therapy that he’s able to accept the emotional ties and approval that Charlotte (and her family) offer.
That said, Mike's taste in cider is absolutely appalling.
That said, Mike's taste in cider is absolutely appalling.
golden_lily's review against another edition
4.0
Jackie's books always make me super happy, even though I hesitate to call them fluffy or even soft because she works heavy, real world subjects into the narratives. This one has (and needs) a big TW for Mike's verbally and emotionally abusive parents. They're never on page, but he relates several stories of their abuse as well as suffers from low self esteem and self loathing thoughts. He's spent eight years in therapy and doing the work to overcome this, and does, near the end of the book, decide he should see a therapist again. I wish that had been followed up on; a line in the epilogue about how he's clicking with his new psych?
But despite that, it is a really sweet, soft book. It's not quite as grumpy/sunshine tropey as the first book in Cider Bar Sisters, but Charlotte's an introvert with a grumpy streak and Mike is a little golden retriever-ish about her. There's no big mis, a huge plus in my book, and no long, drawn out denial of feelings. The plot is just a nice casual "practice dating" to actual dating with the conflict coming from whether either of the leads is ready to date again. Mike does lie by omission when Charlotte assumes he's more romantically and sexually experienced than he is, but it's a relatively small thing.
The book's got the usual Jackie touches: overly involved family, engineering, and a truly unfair amount of food porn. It's funny, there are emotionally supportive best friends on both sides, and a niece who draws venomous spiders and poisonous mushrooms. I think you'll like this one.
But despite that, it is a really sweet, soft book. It's not quite as grumpy/sunshine tropey as the first book in Cider Bar Sisters, but Charlotte's an introvert with a grumpy streak and Mike is a little golden retriever-ish about her. There's no big mis, a huge plus in my book, and no long, drawn out denial of feelings. The plot is just a nice casual "practice dating" to actual dating with the conflict coming from whether either of the leads is ready to date again. Mike does lie by omission when Charlotte assumes he's more romantically and sexually experienced than he is, but it's a relatively small thing.
The book's got the usual Jackie touches: overly involved family, engineering, and a truly unfair amount of food porn. It's funny, there are emotionally supportive best friends on both sides, and a niece who draws venomous spiders and poisonous mushrooms. I think you'll like this one.
dhee_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Bit of a love guru situation x going home for the holidays vibe. What really sticks in memory for me is the messaging. Lau stands by her characters and has strong message about acceptance. This comes in two main forms-Charlotte as introvert and Mike's estrangement from his parents. Throughout the bk, Charlotte's friends and Mike do not try to change Charlotte. They give her space and accept her boundaries. Hell they even intervene in casual manner if she needs backup. Same goes for Mike --his decision comes with shame, fear, and isolation. He lets people know when he's ready. He also relishes friends who don’t pry into his family life and is genuinely grateful for having lightness. And he leans on Charlotte when he needs to. I love the way Lau handles these two situations.
Special mention: This is my opinion. More so than usual.
On introversion: Charlotte is horrified by an ex who proposes publicly. This reflects to her that he doesn't know her likes and dislikes. But it also signals he might willing to forgo her feelings for what he might think of as her betterment. Introversion is often treated as a nuisance. A quirk that needs to be corrected. It gives the impression that a person is not good as is. It's a rejection on some level. It's easy to fall in line when it's thought of as help. That's why Charlotte shuts down people who try to change her.
On family dynamics: I love any book that shows characters who might not necessarily be close to siblings or parents. There is heavy dose of media and pop culture where these bonds are always so much larger than life. It's hard to admit you don’t have that and might not ever. Lau does great job with Charlotte and Julie. They're not close. They're not estranged. There is no need for either to feel guilt. It just is.
I loved it. It's complex and a fun romance.
Special mention: This is my opinion. More so than usual.
On introversion: Charlotte is horrified by an ex who proposes publicly. This reflects to her that he doesn't know her likes and dislikes. But it also signals he might willing to forgo her feelings for what he might think of as her betterment. Introversion is often treated as a nuisance. A quirk that needs to be corrected. It gives the impression that a person is not good as is. It's a rejection on some level. It's easy to fall in line when it's thought of as help. That's why Charlotte shuts down people who try to change her.
On family dynamics: I love any book that shows characters who might not necessarily be close to siblings or parents. There is heavy dose of media and pop culture where these bonds are always so much larger than life. It's hard to admit you don’t have that and might not ever. Lau does great job with Charlotte and Julie. They're not close. They're not estranged. There is no need for either to feel guilt. It just is.
I loved it. It's complex and a fun romance.
_ashton_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
This was super adorable and Charlotte was soooo relatable in many ways (hello fellow introvert who enjoys working from home and not dealing with people).
However, what made me dock a star was the moments when Charlotte was irritating af, aka when she constantly judged other ppl for their food and drink choices. If I had to hear her complain about Mike putting pineapple on his pizza one more friggin time…Food shaming annoys the heck out of me, and I really wish Charlotte hadn’t been so judgmental because it made her seem more pretentious than necessary.
Otherwise, this was another great romance from an author who is quickly becoming an auto read for me, and whose huge backlist I’m slowly trying to make my way through!
However, what made me dock a star was the moments when Charlotte was irritating af, aka when she constantly judged other ppl for their food and drink choices. If I had to hear her complain about Mike putting pineapple on his pizza one more friggin time…Food shaming annoys the heck out of me, and I really wish Charlotte hadn’t been so judgmental because it made her seem more pretentious than necessary.
Otherwise, this was another great romance from an author who is quickly becoming an auto read for me, and whose huge backlist I’m slowly trying to make my way through!
nshalla's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0